Reaching For White

The sun rose on fieldssnow blown and misted

ghostly swirls and dervishes.

No fog this--

for fog simply lies.

No--this was living

as it arched and twisted, 

fingering out to the road

and reaching for me

like the shade of a beloved friend.

There was white inside,

trying to seep out of pores,

I felt it strain

trying to mesh and meld

with this sentient wraith 

fingers touching 

joining

and suddenly

I am the morning mist

dancing in the crystal air.

-Lisa Shields 

Whispering, hear the ghost in the moonlight

Logan Pearsall Smith once said "What I like in an author is not what he says, but what he whispers. 

Mr. Smith makes a valid point. What is writing if the reader does not have to dig deeper into the story to find the underlying meaning? If the reader does not leave the story thinking about what they have just read, then the author has not done his or her job. 

People write for a reason. The author may tell a story or blatantly say his point, but it makes the piece so much more interesting if the author hides the facts and creatively presents his or her points. Take the short story, Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorn, for example. Hawthorn tells an intriguing story, but "whispers" the fear of evil and internal lives of real people. He ends his story ambiguously, making the reader figure out his lessons and points of why he wrote this masterpiece. 

I completely agree with Smith in this manner, finding that I enjoy the challenge of discovering the "whispers" and knowing that a new one will pop up each time a piece is read. While I have read stories where the author just "says," they do not stick in my mind as well as one that secretly possesses a lesson in between its lines. 

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The Tell-Tale Heart by Edger Allen Poe is one of the great short stories of our time. It personally struck me as captivating. I found that once I began to read this short story, I could not put it down. I wanted to devour every word and keep it in my mind forever. The story is one of moral ambiguity; the character wrestles with his conscious until his guilt prevails and he admits to the murder. Mr. Poe is a master at the craft of getting his audience enthralled in the story he presents, which is why I love this story so much. It not only gets a message across but also is so well crafted that I am beside myself when I read it. 

Do you think young people today value thier education as much as Sara Smolinsky does? Why or why not?

The value of education is much appreciated by Sara Smolinsky. I feel that a generalization about american children cannot be accurately made, for it depends on the child if he or she values their education.  Education in America is a law, resulting in resent to school. Back in Sara's time, it was an option and privilege, mostly for boys. Children and teenagers constantly complain about the amount of work, times for school, and other things related to their mandatory education. Sara realizes that her family doesn't think girls should be educated, which only adds another level to her dedication in schooling. I do think, however, that a small number of students value their education to a certain extent. Legally, you are allowed to drop out of school at the age of 16. Look at the the amount of teens who actually do drop out versus the amount of teens that enroll in higher studies, such as college. They know without education that their careers may not be possible. In the moment, people Sara's age may not value their education, but are extremely appreciative of it at an older age. 

Walter "Rex" Smith

A wise man named Walter "Rex" Smith once said "There's nothing hard about writing.  All you have to do is sit down and open up a vein." While I agree somewhat with Smith, I must say that there are only two hard parts about writing. The first being getting started and the second being staying on topic. Once I find the small part of me that holds my creativity, I can write until my fingers turn blue. My problem as a writer is I never know where to begin and I constantly question myself. I ask if the reader will want to read what I have come created. Staying on topic for me is quite difficult. I always find myself going on tangents and then having to get myself back on track. So, here's to you Mr. Smith, who thinks writing is nothing more than a difficult task put on your plate. 

Sara's Story....

As I read further into Bread Givers, I am completely sucked into Sara's story. I find the fine line of respect and hatred so interesting to see unfold before my eyes. The story's progress, so far, makes me nervous for the girls and I completely feel for their characters. Yezierska's writing is strong and gives vivid detail into the lives of these girls who are repressed by their father's traditionalist wrath. I also think the underlying story of poverty makes the story more interesting to read. It puts a factor of survival into the story; will the girls be able to survive the father's wrath AND be able to eat the next day? 

What am I thankful for?!

10. Musicals 

9. Loud and crazy families 

8. Front to front 

7. Knights, Guards, and Foot soldiers 

6. the Shossom

5. Art 

4. my dog, Hannah

3. New York City

2. 2:00 AM grilled cheese 

1. MY LIFE =]

i love pets...

...not cats. 

i'm still new to this blogging thing

...and i can't figure out how to follow someone else's blog...

HELP  =|

i'm horrible with computers

and i still can figure this blogging thing out....